Isco, Inc.

Teledyne Isco, Inc.

Teledyne Instruments, Inc.

Dale A Davison

Robert W Allington

Daniel G Jameson

Scott L Blakley

Dale L Clay

Robin R Winter

Yoossef Tehrani

Delwin D Hodgin

Ruth A Pipes

Jack E Silver

Jon L Curran

Dale L Meyer

Henry L Walters

Robert R Fiedler

Robert W Allington, Legal Representative

A method and system is disclosed for streamlined purchase of consumable chromatographic columns and efficient instrument management. Purchase orders for chromatographic columns are entered into based on estimating usage for a fixed period. An initial partial shipment is made of tagged columns as the columns are used. An RFID transmits trigger signals until an order point is reached at which time a new partial shipment is made. This process is repeated until the end of the fixed period. A general control system is in wireless communication with a plurality of apparatuses to ensure prompt and accurate supply of consumables used by the apparatus. As the apparatus uses the consumables, the instrument management system sends indicia from the apparatus to the general control which controls and monitors the number of specific consumables sent to the apparatus.

Apparatuses and methods for wireless monitoring and control of supplies for environmental sampling and chromatographic apparatuses

A liquid chromatographic system includes columns, column mounting fixtures to which the columns are mounted, a detector, a collector, a controller and a plurality of RFIDs. A first RFID communicates with the controller and cooperating RFIDs mounted to other components provide information such as the history of components, parameters and the like. They also receive information from sensors relating to the operation of the liquid chromatograph, store the information and transmit it. Moreover, the RFIDs may substitute for hard wiring in many applications and may enable a central computer to control several liquid chromatographic system.

Apparatuses and methods for wireless monitoring and control of environmental sampling and chromatographic apparatuses

Sample is applied to a chromatographic column containing shape stabilized packing and the liquid phase is pumped through the shape stabilized packing at a rate of flow greater than the standard rate of flow to obtain at least one of a target resolution and target time of run. Because of the improved resolution provided by the shape stabilized packing at higher rates of flow of solvent, the chromatographer can either obtain better resolution with a standard gradient or shorten the time of the run and reduce the amount of solvent needed by increasing the slope of the gradient.

Method and apparatus for chromatography using spherical silica gel

A bubbler is positioned within a solvent reservoir of a chromatographic system with its opening near the bottom of the system to measure the pressure of solvent. The bubbler may use air or may use helium or some other gas so that the solvent can be purged of excess air while its level is being monitored by the bubbler. The bubbler provides a depth signal to a microcontroller that records the drop in pressure and projects a low level of pressure at which point solvent should be replenished. The microprocessor may provide a signal to the operator or terminate operation or automatically replenish solvent depending upon the program.

Chromatographic solvent monitor

A sample injector includes a rotary valve element with a straight passageway through it, which element may be rotated to connect a port communicating with a source of solvent with a port communicating with an inlet to a column. Another passageway connects two adjacent ports. The valve element may be rotated to one position in which it provides a straight path for sample to be injected, a second position in which it provides a path that connects a source of purge gas to the chromatographic system and a third position in which it provides a path that connects solvent to the column for preconditioning.

Valve

To form a smooth gradient and a preparatory liquid chromatographic system having a plurality of syringe type pumps, solvents are alternately drawn and inserted into each cylinder. The solvents are alternately drawn into and through a long narrow path formed of tubing to create axial mixing and spreading out of the interface and then are drawn into the cylinders during the refill stroke of the piston at a sufficiently high velocity to create turbulence. The drawing of the solvents into one side of the cylinder a radial distance from the center creates circular eddy currents.

Liquid chromatographic method and system

A chromatographic monitor includes an array of flow cells with individual light sensors that are collectively an array of photodiodes. The output from the photodiodes are multiplexed. To prevent losing information, the photodiodes are each connected to a different one of a plurality of inputs to the multiplexer through a corresponding one of a plurality of circuits that stores energy during the time the one inlet is not connected through the multiplexer to the signal processing circuitry that forms a part of an absorbance monitor. Preferably, the energy storing circuit is a non-switching circuit with low bandwidth and a flat-topped response to an impulse. This improves the signal to noise ratio. A one pole low pass filter with a (1-1/e) Dirac pulse fall time and equal to the multiplex entire cycle repeat time can perform this function and a one pole low pass filter provides satisfactory results. Still better results can be obtained from a three pole, one or two percent overshoot filter with combined minimum frequency bandwidth and fast rise time. A rise time equal to &#xbd; the multiplex entire cycle.

To economically perform preparatory chromatography, a plurality of pumps each having a corresponding one of a plurality of pistons and a corresponding one of a plurality of cylinders are driven by one motor to draw and pump solvent simultaneously into corresponding columns. To form a gradient, the pumps are connected to two-way valves that are connected alternately to a first solvent and a second solvent, whereby the time said valve is in a first position controls the amount of solvent drawn from the first reservoir into said pumps and the amount of time in said second position controls the amount of said second solvent drawn from the second reservoir into said pumps and the solvent is mixed in the pumping systems. The detectors are photodiodes mounted to light guides in the flow cells that generate signals related to light absorbance and communicate with a controller, whereby the controller receives signals indicating solute between the light guides and causes collection of solute. An over-pressure system compensates for pressure over a predetermined level.

To make an inexpensive chromatographic column and perform chromatography with it, column walls and a column end with a port are molded integrally from plastic. A closure is integrally molded with a port as well. One type of closure includes part of a snap-on fastener integrally molded to it to cooperate with corresponding parts molded integrally with the column walls and another type of closure is welded to the tubular walls. In the preferred embodiment the welding is spin welding. The end and closure have channels molded into them radiating from a port and opening toward packing material such as silica beads or porous polymeric plugs. Filters and secondary seals may be located at the ends to prevent leakage of packing material.

Disposable chromatographic columns

To make an inexpensive chromatographic column and perform chromatography with it, column walls and a column end with an inlet port are molded integrally from plastic and a snap-on end is molded integrally with an outlet port from plastic. A filter is placed in one end of the column and the column is filled with packing material up to the second end. A filter is placed on top of the packing and a snap-on end with a molded outlet port is snapped onto the body with linear motion until an interference fit is formed. As the body and snap-on end are moved together cantilever members formed integrally with the snap on end are bent outwardly by detent members until the detent members are captured by an opening in the cantilever members.

To make an inexpensive chromatographic column and perform chromatography with it, column walls and a column end with an inlet port are molded integrally from plastic and a snap-on end is molded integrally with an outlet port from plastic. A filter is placed in one end of the column and the column is filled with packing material up to the second end. A filter is placed on top of the packing and a snap-on end with a molded outlet port is a snapped onto the body with linear motion until an interference fit is formed. As the body and snap-on end are moved together cantilever members formed integrally with the snap on end are bent outwardly by detent members until the detent members are captured by an opening in the cantilever members.

To economically perform preparatory chromatography, a plurality of pumps each having a corresponding one of a plurality of pistons and a corresponding one of a plurality of cylinders are driven by one motor to draw and pump solvent simultaneously into corresponding columns. To form a gradient the pumps are connected to two-way valves that are connected alternately to a first solvent and a second solvent, whereby the time said valve is in a first position controls the amount of solvent drawn from said first reservoir into said pumps and the amount of time in said second position controls the amount of said second solvent drawn into said pumps and the solvent is mixed in the pumping systems. The detectors are photodiodes mounted to light guides in the flow cells that generate signals related to light absorbance and communicate with a controller, whereby said controller receives signals indicating solute between the light guides and causes collection of solute.

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Greenwood, NE, United States of America

Dale A Davison